National Volunteer Day 2019 slated for Saturday, February 16

On Feb 13, 2019

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 12, 2019 (SKNIS): The second annual National Volunteer Day is slated for Saturday, February 16, 2019, when scores of volunteers go out in their respective communities in an exercise of patriotism and service to others.

National Volunteer Day was introduced in 2018 by the government to foster a greater sense of civic identity, unity, service and responsibility in citizens and residents. The initiative forms part of the Team Unity Administration’s fourth Anniversary Calendar of Activities from February 11 to April 16, 2019, under the theme: “TEAM UNITY: Making Dreams a Reality in Every Community!!!”

In 2018, more than 30 groups, on both St. Kitts and Nevis, expressed their intention to host several activities including beach clean-ups, tree planting exercises, delivering fruit baskets, organized hikes with youths and visits to the elderly.

One such group is the Volunteer Corps, which was instituted by the Department of Youth Empowerment in St. Kitts in February 2018 with the aim of facilitating youth access to opportunities to play an integral role in community development.

Pierre Liburd, Acting Director in the Department of Youth Empowerment, said that this year they are hoping to do some cleanups around the island and engage in tree planting exercises and other activities.

“It is important for young persons to give back to their community because it helps to improve them as individuals and it gives them an opportunity to make their community/society a better place,” he said.

The Volunteer Corps is also expected to serve at the National Elderly Luncheon for senior citizens at Government House on Saturday, February 16.